Rachel left Gabriel and Valerie’s apartment together with Ava, wandering around the city with her little girl. The little girl seemed to like the fresh air and the crowd around her. She was taking everything in, making waving gestures to everything she seemed to like. Rachel wanted to pay Emma a visit, to see with her own eyes how her friend was doing. She kept in touch with Emma while she stayed in her hometown. She was going to marry Ethan and build a life in the city with him, so she was here to stay. If Emma would need some help she’d gladly take back her old job. It gave her something to do. She knew Ethan wouldn’t mind at all. They could put Ava in daycare which Hunter and Starr’s company did provide. She took in the front of the shop, nothing had changed at all. Glancing inside through the window she noticed it wasn’t too crowded. She could have a coffee while catching up with Emma. She entered Emma’s Haven, greeted by the smell of vanilla mixed with coffee. It smelled amazing and made her crave a cappuccino.
“Oh my God! Rachel?!”
Rachel trailed her eyes to the counter, meeting Emma’s excited gaze, “Hi Emma.”
Emma walked around the counter and approached her, peeking at Ava first. She gently poked the little girl’s chubby cheek and laughed when Ava smiled at her. Her smile wonky but adorable.
“Rachel and the little baby.” Emma cooed, “This is too much cuteness.”
Rachel took Ava out of her stroller and let Emma hold her. Ava didn’t seem to mind Emma at all, she glanced at the woman with curious eyes. Smiling whenever Emma coed to her. While Emma was hugging her baby Rachel took in the place which she had felt very passionate about. It was crowded, but not insanely crowded like whenever Ryan paid it a visit. Emma had two girls working for her. Both of them looking like they were enjoying what they were doing.
“I missed this place,” Rachel told Emma.
“This place has missed you.” Emma told her, “Ready to start on Monday?”
Rachel’s smile faded, “What, are you serious?”
Emma held her gaze, the serious look in the woman’s eyes said it all, “Oh, I’m very serious about that Rachel. Nothing compares to your baking. You belong here.”
Rachel was flattered not to mention excited about the offer, “Yes! I’d love my job back, but I need to discuss it with Ethan first.” She trailed her eyes to Ava who was holding her hand out to her, she let Ava hold her finger with her little fist, “We’re getting some work done at our new apartment. We can actually move in, in about four weeks or so.”
“So you start once you’re settled in your new place. How about you start in two months from now?”
She nodded excitedly, “Yes, that’s a great idea. Surely we’re moved in by then and arranged daycare for the little one.”
“Great!” Emma agreed, “We’ll keep in touch then.”
Rachel took Ava from Emma and kissed her little girl’s head, “Yes, we will. Now can I have a cappuccino?”
“Go get comfortable, I’ll bring you your coffee in just a second.”
Rachel pushed the stroller to a table in the back, putting Ava in her stroller she told the little girl about meeting Ryan at Emma’s Haven for the first time while she waited for her coffee. Emma joined her at her table so they could catch up.
***
Ethan was seated on the bed, Ava on his lap while he read her a story. Her eyes were fixed on her daddy’s face rather than the book. The story was about a rabbit saying goodnight to everything around him. By now Rachel could recite the damn book, but Ava seemed to love it. Ethan noticed Ava staring at his face and smiled down at her. He pressed a kiss to her temple which caused the little girl to giggle and rub her little hands over her face.
“She’s in a good mood today.” Ethan met her gaze.
Rachel approached the bed and sat down beside her fiancé, leaning her head against his shoulder. He also gave her temple a kiss which made her giggle.
“We went out today, wandered around the city for a bit and then paid Emma a visit.”
“So you’re in a good mood today as well?” He asked her.
“Yeah.” She quietly told him, “Also very tired.”
“I bet this little girl didn’t want to take a nap.”
Rachel sighed loudly, “You have no idea. It was such a struggle. I was losing my patience, giving up on letting her sleep in the crib. I was about to take her out and just cuddle with her on the couch when she just suddenly fell asleep.”
“Why don’t you settle in while I watch over Ava?”
Rachel slightly pulled away from him and grabbed her phone off the bedside table, glancing at the time on the display. It was not even nine yet but she was considering crawling under the sheets and letting her eyes rest for a while.
“Come on, don’t feel guilty about it. Go lay down.” Ethan quietly told her.
She pulled the sheets over her legs and rested her head against his shoulder again. She wanted to cuddle with him some more before she’d call it a day. If she did fall asleep like that she wouldn’t regret a thing.
“Emma gave me my job back.” She muttered.
“You’re going to work at that coffee place again?”
“Hm, in two months. I want to focus on moving into our new place first and letting Ava get acquainted with the daycare at your office.”
“You really want to do this?” He asked her.
“Yes, I loved working at Emma’s Haven.”
“Okay then.” And just like that Ethan agreed, “If you really want to do it then we’ll figure something out. I did hear good things about the daycare.”
She smiled, closing her eyes as she felt sleep taking her, “Of course you did, it’s a daycare at Hunter and Starr’s, of course, you offer good services.”
He chuckled, “Whatever.” He kissed her head, “Night, Rache.”
She mumbled something, not sure if Ethan understood what she had said. She did hear Ava making a loud noise which caused her fiancé to laugh. With a smile on her face, Rachel drifted asleep.